Pristimantis telefericus

Pristimantis telefericus is a species of frogs in the family Craugastoridae. It is endemic to the Cordillera de Mérida in Venezuela. It is known from near two stations (La Aguada and Loma Redonda) of the Mérida cable car in the Libertador Municipality, Mérida.[1][2]

Pristimantis telefericus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Craugastoridae
Genus: Pristimantis
Subgenus: Pristimantis
Species:
P. telefericus
Binomial name
Pristimantis telefericus
(La Marca, 2005)
Synonyms[2]

Eleutherodactylus telefericus La Marca, 2005[3]

Etymology

The specific name telefericus refers to its type locality along Teleférico de Mérida, the Mérida cable car.[3]

Description

Adult males measure 23–30 mm (0.91–1.18 in) and females 36–41 mm (1.4–1.6 in) in snout–vent length. The head is slightly wider than it is long. The canthus rostralis is straight and well defined. The tympanum is distinct and oval in shape. The fingers and toes have no webbing and only small discs. The coloration is variable. The dorsum may range from brown to almost black. There are usually two lighter dorso-lateral stripes. Some individuals have a W-mark on their shoulders. The venter is grey to creamy grey, sometimes with black marbling.[3]

Habitat and conservation

Natural habitats of Pristimantis telefericus are páramos at elevations of 3,400–3,500 m (11,200–11,500 ft) above sea level.[1][3] The habitat is dominated by grasses and frailejóns (Espeletia spp.). Most animals were found under stones.[3]

The species occurs in the Sierra Nevada National Park, but its known area of distribution is nevertheless very small. Climate change leading to warmer temperatures and more pronounced and extended dry seasons might be a threat.[1]

References
  1. La Marca, E. (2006). "Pristimantis telefericus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2006: e.T61820A12562957. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2006.RLTS.T61820A12562957.en.
  2. Frost, Darrel R. (2017). "Pristimantis telefericus (La Marca, 2005)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  3. La Marca, E. (2005). "Dos nuevas especies de rana (Amphibia: Leptodactylidae) de páramo del Parque Nacional Sierra Nevada, Venezuela" [Two new species of frogs (Amphibia: Leptodactylidae) from paramo in Sierra Nevada National Park, Venezuela]. Herpetotropicos (in Spanish). 2 (1): 47–54.
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